The Shot Heard Around Paragon City - SCORE Public Release

[Tahquitz]

Regarding my prior statement, that's a no on the "Wake Me" thread, but a different plan is in the works.  Stay tuned™.

[Ironwolf]

There is still the legal question. I wouldn't be even thinking of setting up a public facing server at this time. If its true that the source was illegally handed off, that is a very serious problem. Its something I would want to distance myself from. Stolen IP is not something we really want to touch. I want to play the game, but I'm not willing to be fined or jailed over it.

I did not steal it and in fact have zero idea where the code I may receive is from other than hearsay. I can say the code is modified as powersets and development has occurred from the videos I have seen.

I have seen so many various rumors of what, how, where, when the code was released or came into being. I know many other private servers for other games have been setup - where did they get the code? If I act as a responsible steward for their game - not allowing a profit to be made and actively seek to get a buyer to purchase it from NCSoft and step away from it - other than a C&D letter - which I would comply to immediately, I can't see what risk - I am taking? I am not damaging the financial future of the product - it is closed. I am not seeking to make a profit or to harm NCSoft - in fact I want the opposite - to give them a fully functioning product they no longer have.

[starmage21]

The news:

A search for rental servers and the best data center to choose is about to begin (think Denver/Dallas).
Rental servers will be initially used because if we get a C&D letter getting stuck with selling $30k of servers would suck.

If you work in such an environment and would like us to consider you - let me know. I will be the fall guy for now and I am also looking for website hosting and development. Once that happens we can take the work away from TonyV's site and let him also be in peace. He has been of incredible value to us and our hopes still exist because of him.

This won't be a 1 day or 2 day fix - my goal is to try and have beta testing by 1 September 2019. It is the goal, but a lot of work needs to be done.


What do I aspire to? I would love to find a partner to hand all this over to and purchase rights to the game along with having the folks who worked on the updated graphics to see if they can merge that with the existing game. I hope if we can have the world ready an investor will make the effort to buy it from NCSoft.

I have no intention of making a profit from this and will post all banking details weekly or as expenses are occurred. Obviously at first I will be paying for it - I opened my mouth - I take the risk. Once it is running the costs will be known and can be budgeted for.

This is not a joke and is completely serious.

This post seems to carry the intention that you will start and help manage a server, and getting that up and running will take several months. It implies you have either received or know that you will receive a copy of the code and/or executable files. Have you?

We have been made aware that some scrubbing needs to happen to protect the original NCSoft Dev who leaked it, but otherwise the code should be hosted in a public place LONG before this couple of months it will take to host a functional private server. Are you aware of the status of that effort?

[Azrael]

I did not steal it and in fact have zero idea where the code I may receive is from other than hearsay. I can say the code is modified as powersets and development has occurred from the videos I have seen.

I have seen so many various rumors of what, how, where, when the code was released or came into being. I know many other private servers for other games have been setup - where did they get the code? If I act as a responsible steward for their game - not allowing a profit to be made and actively seek to get a buyer to purchase it from NCSoft and step away from it - other than a C&D letter - which I would comply to immediately, I can't see what risk - I am taking? I am not damaging the financial future of the product - it is closed. I am not seeking to make a profit or to harm NCSoft - in fact I want the opposite - to give them a fully functioning product they no longer have.

:)

Can't you just tell Iron Wolf is 'back' in town?

*Xen Fulcrum-shift.

*smiles serenely.

Azrael.

[Super Atom]

I did not steal it and in fact have zero idea where the code I may receive is from other than hearsay. I can say the code is modified as powersets and development has occurred from the videos I have seen.

I have seen so many various rumors of what, how, where, when the code was released or came into being. I know many other private servers for other games have been setup - where did they get the code? If I act as a responsible steward for their game - not allowing a profit to be made and actively seek to get a buyer to purchase it from NCSoft and step away from it - other than a C&D letter - which I would comply to immediately, I can't see what risk - I am taking? I am not damaging the financial future of the product - it is closed. I am not seeking to make a profit or to harm NCSoft - in fact I want the opposite - to give them a fully functioning product they no longer have.

You being involved is extremely relieving, I know a lot of people don't have much trust left but Iron Wolf is certainly deserving of trust. I hope everyone can see that and don't give you a hard time. Thanks for following through my man.

[kiario]

The news:

A search for rental servers and the best data center to choose is about to begin (think Denver/Dallas).
Rental servers will be initially used because if we get a C&D letter getting stuck with selling $30k of servers would suck.

If you work in such an environment and would like us to consider you - let me know. I will be the fall guy for now and I am also looking for website hosting and development. Once that happens we can take the work away from TonyV's site and let him also be in peace. He has been of incredible value to us and our hopes still exist because of him.

This won't be a 1 day or 2 day fix - my goal is to try and have beta testing by 1 September 2019. It is the goal, but a lot of work needs to be done.


What do I aspire to? I would love to find a partner to hand all this over to and purchase rights to the game along with having the folks who worked on the updated graphics to see if they can merge that with the existing game. I hope if we can have the world ready an investor will make the effort to buy it from NCSoft.

I have no intention of making a profit from this and will post all banking details weekly or as expenses are occurred. Obviously at first I will be paying for it - I opened my mouth - I take the risk. Once it is running the costs will be known and can be budgeted for.

This is not a joke and is completely serious.

Dont forget to get connections in Europe for a server there also ;)

[nicoliy]

I trust Ironwolf no questions asked. I also trust TonyV and Titan Network.

[Azrael]

Regarding my prior statement, that's a no on the "Wake Me" thread, but a different plan is in the works.  Stay tuned™.

Interesting.

Staying tuned (TM.)

*Waits patiently.

Azrael.

[Azrael]

I trust Ironwolf no questions asked. I also trust TonyV and Titan Network.

Amen.

Well said, Nicoliy.

Azrael.

[MegaWatt]

*sits quietly and makes a list of characters* if can get them backi would be so happy.....but by the same token there are so many NEW ones i want to make!

[nicoliy]

*sits quietly and makes a list of characters* if can get them backi would be so happy.....but by the same token there are so many NEW ones i want to make!

I'd love for my old ones to come home, but for playing I'd be rolling new toons.

[Ironwolf]

This post seems to carry the intention that you will start and help manage a server, and getting that up and running will take several months. It implies you have either received or know that you will receive a copy of the code and/or executable files. Have you?

We have been made aware that some scrubbing needs to happen to protect the original NCSoft Dev who leaked it, but otherwise the code should be hosted in a public place LONG before this couple of months it will take to host a functional private server. Are you aware of the status of that effort?

I am researching the best place and type of servers to use, yes. The transfer of code won't be discussed by me. I have zero reliable sources for how the code was obtained. I have had limited conversation with Leandro since 6 am this morning and not before.

I can say on a stack of bible's that prior to this week I was unaware of a private server and would not have joined if I knew. I say a couple months - because I work a full time job and it would be a conflict of interest for me to try and handle something like this while working. I retire 30th August 2019. I hope then that by September 1st we can have something to open with as a load test. I have no idea what day one will look like other than total chaos. It would not be fair to my current employer or the game to do both things.

[Azrael]

I agree - within reason - I won't debate data center choices for 7 pages or what the header page on the website will be at first. Some things have to be done at first just to get it moving. We can make changes later.

I hope it makes sense - get a server up - load test it and see where we are.

Get a website up so we can start to unwind character data with as much of an eye to privacy as we can.

Understand no one has account payment data - is was not needed to run the game - so start remembering some of the names of your characters because that may be how we can return them to you.

This is without a doubt the largest challenge of my life outside of raising kids. I cannot and will not be doing it alone. I will need help and so many things I am too ignorant to even ask the questions about let alone have the answers for.

It will be as above board as possible without risking people who don't want to be identified as having helped.

Oh yes, one more thing - all work will be done in such a way as to protect NCSoft's investment - it is THEIR GAME. Currently they don't have a working server they could sell. If this is done correctly we will be their willing steward to protect THEM. If this hurts your feelings towards NCSoft - I am sorry but this is non-negotiable.

That sounds like a reasonable plan to me.  Recognising the challenges ahead.

Inclusive.  Discrete.  Ample opportunity for people to get their characters back if they can remember their names (more than many could have wished for...)

And your last paragraph is noteworthy.  Fair's fair.

Azrael.

[Ohioknight]

The news:

A search for rental servers and the best data center to choose is about to begin (think Denver/Dallas).
Rental servers will be initially used because if we get a C&D letter getting stuck with selling $30k of servers would suck.

If you work in such an environment and would like us to consider you - let me know. I will be the fall guy for now and I am also looking for website hosting and development. Once that happens we can take the work away from TonyV's site and let him also be in peace. He has been of incredible value to us and our hopes still exist because of him.

This won't be a 1 day or 2 day fix - my goal is to try and have beta testing by 1 September 2019. It is the goal, but a lot of work needs to be done.


What do I aspire to? I would love to find a partner to hand all this over to and purchase rights to the game along with having the folks who worked on the updated graphics to see if they can merge that with the existing game. I hope if we can have the world ready an investor will make the effort to buy it from NCSoft.

I have no intention of making a profit from this and will post all banking details weekly or as expenses are occurred. Obviously at first I will be paying for it - I opened my mouth - I take the risk. Once it is running the costs will be known and can be budgeted for.

This is not a joke and is completely serious.

It's super awesome that you're thinking about running a private server and all... do you have anybody lined up with remotely the technical chops to put this thing together and make it work if you get the code and data from a public dump?

[lobster]

I have been following these forums (and everywhere else I could) for years...but this is the first time in ages I've felt like posting.  But I've been feeling a lot of things lately.

But it looks like the code is getting out...and once that threshold is crossed, and multiple copies exist...crazy. 

Anyway, if you need any help that a sysadmin/IT type could provide, let me know Ironwolf.  I've got a full time job and family too, but if anything is worth finding some time for, it's CoH/X.

[Kyriani]

I'm almost afraid to even hope to play again but... this turn of events actually seems promising! I'll be watching with great interest!

[Vee]

Regarding my prior statement, that's a no on the "Wake Me" thread, but a different plan is in the works.  Stay tuned™.

Private Server Meets World?

[Ironwolf]

I am also a system admin and so some of the stuff I can do - some of it not so much.

This is not going to happen overnight. I literally don't have enough time - but I can get it started. No, I don't want ANY money. This is NOT a cash grab. I will fund the start up - if any lawsuit or letter is filed if not profit has occurred I would be unlikely to faced a criminal proceeding or a civil one since no damages were done - in fact the opposite as NCSoft does not have a currently working COH server.

I also would be happy to freely give them the work done to maintain it or develop it for them.

[bugzee]

Potential legal issues aside, I would hope that if the code is released, it will not just be to one other person, but to the public domain instead. Let it out for the world to have so that it can never be shut down again. At least let people have a go at running their own if they so desire.

[Azrael]

Sorry Tony, I know I promised I'd never bring this back to this forum, and please stop throwing yourself in front of buses to defend me.

*****

Then I was diagnosed with severe thyroid issues that left me unable to concentrate on anything for months. Life gets in the way.

Then suddenly, six years had passed.

I know the community is hurt and it's my fault. I am moving as fast as I can to try to make things better, but I can't make instantly get everything ready. I have not slept since my phone was published on Monday at 2am and notifications haven't stopped ringing since then.

Please. Have patience. I am only human. And I am trying really hard to keep almost 3539 people from being harrassed and threatened as I have been for the last 4 days.

Yes, almost 3539 people. Because many of them are not around anymore. And every single one of them is a reminder of my failure to make this work.

Leandro.  Your health and people are more important than 'a game.'  And the loss of people over the last 6 years...

Put the loss of CoH into perspective and the gargantuan strains to bring it back in a way that is worthy of the community and beyond the frustrations of the developer's spaghetti code.  (See Codewalker's stunning work on the PC Super bases.)

Most rational people will know that you, Codewalker, the team of Score and Tony V have tried to act honourably.

We have Icon, Paragon Chat and the extensive 'done for free' work done on 'The Third Project' to thank for their safe guarding and due diligence.  Without it?

All would be lost.  So in that sense, I'll offer my own debt of gratitude to Leandro, Codewalker and Tony.  For?  Keeping the dream alive and a place to call home meantime.

I'm happy that 'the team' were working towards a reverse emulated server (or rather 'equivalent' that worked better knowing the perfectionist Codewalker...).  The game is alive.  It's been preserved for eventual release.

Personally, I never doubted your or Codewalker's efforts.  It was plain to see.  I have enjoyed your extensive public relations work, especially the stunning work on 'The Wharf' with added Statesman.  A piece of work worthy of the original developers themselves.

Regardless of 'this leak' I trusted your judgement.  Nothing has changed for me, except that I have the sheer joy of the impossible is now possible.

Many things in life don't happen as fast as we'd like.  And time passes.  (I understand that as well as anyone.)  And yes, we lose people along the way who we wish could share in our celebrations as we move forward.

It's not like we never had the game.  I played it.  I enjoyed it like no other.

CoH's legacy is in safe hands.  If Score/Leandro/Codewalker (or whoever serves as intermediary...) chooses to pass 'a torch' (eg. A part of what they're working on...) to Iron Wolf?  So be it.  It's there call.  But I don't want Leandro or anyone else going to jail for 'good intentions.'  It's 'okay for someone like me to cheer leader' from the sides without copping the fall out in legal terms, criminal prosecution or jail time.  Words are easy.  Actions are harder.

The leak, unfortunate as it was, it a cause for celebration.  'It's alive.'

Instead of being 'ungrateful' because I wasn't invited to the secret server, I take a different point of view.  If we value what we fight for.  If the cause is 'just.'  I won't grudge people who didn't have long to live to enjoy it with their friends or lambast a sick guy who cares for his dogs. 

My glass is definitely 'very full' right now.

We should rally with messages of support and any help we can offer.  This is the chance we've been waiting for to step as a community.  The chance we didn't really have when the rug was pulled from under us.

Take care, Leandro. 

Your health is more important than 'an old game' (much loved though it is.)

Azrael.